Statistics show that one of the most powerful risk factors for being admitted to the ICU and of dying is Obesity. Obese people are admitted as much as six times more than normal people.
The media, CDC and health officials in general have shied away form this topic but it is a fact that obesity plays a significant role in the risk to young children and pregnant women.
A study has found that 32.7% that were hospitalized had asthma or another form of respiratory disease, and this was much higher than the normal population. Generally, obesity is also associated with a high level of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of serious infection. Hence the risk of the H1N1 virus and any other virus no matter how mild.